Game counting device



June 13, 1939. J MCQSKER 2,162,631

GAME COUNTING DEvIpE Filed Dec. 28, 1937 4 w c o o o' o o I w 0 Wooooo 0090 0000 00 00 0 1 o o 00 00 o0 fl 000 OOOOO 00. 9-

fig' oo Q0090 oQOoQy O 00 00000 /OQOOO OOQOO 009 1 Q0006 0 000 2 \OOOOO 00 00 j 00 00 00 20- cwe 94/ 046 Z /.9 WA 'J' -zz ATTOR N EYS PatentedJune 13,1939

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,162,! GAME COUNTING DEVICE Joseph D. McOsker, Allston, Mass. Application December 28, 1937, Serial No. 182,135

4Claims.

The invention relates to a counting device and more especially to a scoring device for games oi cribbage or the like.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a device of this'character, wherein scoring for either the shorter or longer cribbage games may be eii'ected without liability of coniusing competing players of the game in the scoring of points thereof and minimizing the possibility of occurrence of mistakes, which generally result in disputes between the players, the board being formed with holes for the reception of scoring pegs or pins and such holes are arranged that the counting progress of the pegs or pins can be had in one general direction 01' the board and thus eliminating the necessity of reversing the course of the pins or pegs in the scor ing of points thereby.

Another object 01 the invention is the provision 0! a device of this character, wherein the pin or peg holes are grouped in series having trends in separated scoring lanes for occupancy in the least possible space and without the necessity of increasing the length of the board 0! such device, which would be the case it the lanes were provided with straight rows of holes devoid of the zigzag arrangement and further the scoring pins or pegs can be manipulated in one general directime only for scoring purposes.

A iurther object of the invention is the provision of a device 01' this character, wherein demarcations are present at the scoring side of the board enabling determination at any stage in the progress of a game of the particular scoring at a glance, while other demarcations are present on the scoring side of the board indicative of starting points of scoring and identification of a winner of the game.

A further object of the invention is the previsic-n of a device of this character, wherein the construction thereof allowsior the storing of the scoring pins or pegs when not in use while at the scoring side of the board are racks for the scoring pins or pegs to hold the same conveniently accessible for scoring on the starting of the game.

A still further object oi the invention is the provision of a device otthis character, which is simple in construction, thoroughly reliable and emcient in operation. assuring against confusion, mistakes and disputes in the scoring when playing a game of cribbage or the like and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction. combination and arrangement of parts as. will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawmg, which discloses the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a side edge elevation partly in section showing a. scoring pin or peg engaged.

Figure 3 is an end edge elevation of the device with pins or pegs in scoring position thereon.

Similar reference characters indicate correspondlng parts throughout the several views in the drawing.

Referring to the drawing in detail, A designates generally a hat faced board and its body I 0 is preferably of substantially rectangular shape having at one working face thereof and formed therein a scoring field I I involving a plurality of lanes created by groups of spaced socket-like openings or holes ii, the lanes being indicated at I! and the holes or openings l2 are disposed zigzag throughout the said lanes which are longitudinally directed with respect to the length of the body H! of said board A.

These holes or openings l2 rcmovably accommodate scoring'pins or pegs H, which normally are stored within a pocket I! provided in the body Ill and opening through one end thereof, the open end being closed by a pivoted closure 46 adapted when in closing position to be latched at H.

The field H of the board body It has provided thereon spaced lines ll, being disposed transversely of the lanes M for grouping arrangement oi the holes or openings l2 into independent groups in the respective lanes so that participants in the game of cribbage, when scoring by the use of the pegs or pins H through engagement thereof in the holes or openings 12, can readily discern a score at determined intervals in the progress of the game. The zigzag disposition of the holes or openings 12 will allow scoring to be effected in one general direction oi the board and also avoids the use of a longer board, which would be the case if these holes or openings were disposed in straight rows. The three-lane arrangement of the holes or openings it permits of a threehanded game of cribbage scoring.

At opposite ends it of the board body ill are provided spaces II, one of the latter being provided with pairs of spaced holes fiend the other the spaced single holes 22, respectively.

Medially of the scoring field [I there is a demarcation 23, being transversely oi the board A for the purpose ofdividing the scoring field Ii so that the board A is usable for the playing of the longer or shortergames of cribbage in the-scoring of points, the longer game involving one hundred and twenty-one scoring points while the shorter game involves sixty-one scoring points as usual. When playing the shorter game, the start in scoring is from the line of demarcation 23 progressively in each lane toward the zone 20 having the single holes or openings 22 therein, being the finishing end of the board, while in the playing of the longer game the scoring is had from the zone 2G with the pairs of holes 26 therein, the finish of the longer and shorter games being efiected at the zone 20 having the single holes or openings 22 therein;

By the arrangement of the holes or openings l2 in each lane in a zigzag disposition, a scoring by a player aigned a lane l3can be had in one general-direction and in this manner there is avoided the reversing of the course of scoring operation in the handling of the pegs or pins Mi without confusion to the players or mistakes be-' ing made on their part leading to disputes with respect to scorings.

The holes 2! at one end is of the hoard A are merely for the purpose of re. the scoring pins l4 prior to the use thereoi for scoring purposes and thespace in the zone 2t occupied eluding a plurality of holes and pegs engageable in saidholes for counting purposes.

manner 2. A device of the kind described comprising a board proper of elongated formation and havinz a flat scoring field provided with independent spaced rows oi holes such holes being arranged zigzag within a straight path to opposite ends of the row in one direction only for effecting spaced parallel lanes, each line of 'the zigzag including a plurality of holes, pegs engageable in said holes for counting purposes, and starting and finishing zones at opposite ends of the lanes'and having racking and finishing holes, respectively.

3. A device of the kind described comprising a board proper of elongated formation and having a fiat scoring field provided with independent spaced rows of holes such holes being arranged zigzag within a straight path toopposite ends of the'row in one direction only ior eflecting spaced parallel lanes, each line 01 the zigzag including a plurality of holes, pegs engageable in said holes for counting purposes, starting and finishing zones at opposite ends of the lanes and having racking and finishing holes, respectively, and lines of demarcation disposed transversely of the lanes and dividing the holes into a plurality.

of groups.

4. A device of the kind described comprising a board proper of elongated formation andhaving a fiat scoring field provided with independent spaced rows of holes such holes being arranged mgzag within a straight path to opposite ends 01 the row in one direction only for eflecting spaced parallel lanes, each line of the zigzag including a plurality of holes, pegs engageable in said holes for counting purposes, starting and finishing 7 zones at opposite ends of the lanes and having racking and finishing holes, respectively, lines of demarcation disposed transversely of the lanes and dividing the holes into aplurality of groups, and a line of drcation carried transversely of the scoring field of' said board proper at the median thereof. r JOSEPH 'D. McOSKER. 

